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Photo By Spc. Mebea Demelash | The Joint Sevices Color Guard, leads the Torrance Armed Forces Day Parade in Torrance,... read more

Torrance, Calif. -- The city of Torrance came alive as residents and visitors gathered to commemorate the 61st annual Torrance Armed Forces Day Parade on May 20, 2023.

The event makes its return after three years due to the global pandemic. It pays tribute to the brave men and women who have served or are currently serving in the United States Armed Forces and is the nation’s longest-running military parade sponsored by any city.

The parade dates back to 1960 and has become a cherished tradition within the community, drawing spectators from all walks of life. Families, veterans, and local organizations lined the streets of Torrance Boulevard to honor and observe our country’s heritage.

“It’s been a few years,” said Emmett Miller, the parade announcer from ABC News. “But we’re back with flying colors.”

Historically, the parade is led by a prologue, which includes the Torrance Mounted Posse, followed by the Grand Marshall, the Official Reviewing Officer of the parade. This year's honorary branch is given to the U.S. Coast Guard, accompanied by Celebrity Grand Mashall Mr. Beau Bridges, a USCG veteran.

Following closely behind were representatives from all military branches, including the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard, with each branch showcasing its distinctive uniforms, equipment, and vehicles, evoking a sense of pride and admiration from the crowd.

There is also an oath of enlistment ceremony, where the Grand Marshall swears in future service members into the Armed Forces. Approximately 500 recruits were sworn in today.

U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers from the 300th Army Band from Bell, Calif., also marched in the parade, playing the Army Song.

Furthermore, the parade welcomed several honored veterans, including World War Ⅱ veterans from all military branches ranging from 94 to 105 years old, according to Miller.

Vietnam veterans were also celebrated and honored. During the parade, they showcased a Dustoff helicopter used in the war.

“I was an Army Engineer, and I got in those things as much as I possibly could because I loved them,” said U.S. Army Veteran and President of Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1024 from Orange, Calif., Dennis Phelps. “Without these helicopters in Vietnam, there would be over a 100,000 names on the wall in Washington, D.C., these things saved lives.”

The Torrance Armed Forces Day Parade holds a special place in the hearts of all participants and spectators, serving as a unifying event that brings the community together. It fosters a sense of appreciation for the armed forces and allows citizens to demonstrate their support for those who have dedicated their lives to defending the nation.

“Proud to be an American, proud to be a veteran,” said Phelps. “My uniform days are over, but my veteran days are forever.”

Spires Restaurant in Torrance, which has served as a gathering place for families and seniors for almost 50 years, will close to make way for two new eateries.

Spires’s last day is Friday, May 26.

Property owner Plaza Del Amo Properties, LLC, applied and received approval from the Torrance Planning Commission in August for a conditional use permit to build a two-tenant restaurant with outdoor dining at 21107 Hawthorne Blvd., where Spires is currently located.

The building that houses the restaurant will be demolished and two 2,479-square foot restaurants, each with 495-square foot outdoor dining areas, will take its place. At this time, no tenants have been identified by the property owner.

In the last few weeks, waves of regulars and occasional diners have streamed in to eat at Spires one last time before it permanently closes at 2 p.m. Friday. Many have brought flowers, balloons and cards to show the staff there their appreciation. Some have even inquired about purchasing the restaurant’s interior decor as a keepsake.

Among the grieving customers was Evelyn Dunn.

“It just breaks my heart that they can’t keep something that’s one of the few old-fashioned, what would you call, coffee house kind of family restaurants,” Dunn said recently, “in the sea of all of these fancy places that you can’t afford anymore.”

The 76-year-old resident has been a regular at the restaurant since it opened in 1977. She found its American diner-style menu high quality and reasonably priced.

After her kids were born, Dunn started taking them to eat at Spires as well, where the family often ran into her colleagues and neighbors, she said. Over time, they have developed a close relationship with other customers and staff at the restaurant.

“We’re all kind of like family,” Dunn said.

She recalled an incident where she ordered a vegetable soup from Spires while recovering at a hospital close to the restaurant, and the food came back with get-well messages written on its bag. When her grandson was born, a waitress from the restaurant visited him at the hospital, she said.

“It’s all the good stuff that we kind of miss in this world today. People touch each other, talk to each other and find out about their families,” Dunn said. “It’s just a wonderful experience.”

Restaurant owner Chris Haretakis, who has run the business for more than 30 years, said Spires has become a sort of “second home” to many customers.

“I’ve seen many generations of people grow up here. I’ve seen people get married, have kids, their kids grow up, and then they have kids,” Haretakis said. “The customers are family, the same as my staff is my family.”

Some of them have made it a habit to eat at the restaurant for breakfast and dinner every day. They even made it a point to call Haretakis to make sure there’s no hard feelings when unforeseen circumstances prevented them from coming in, he said.

“Every day I come to work, I recognize about 85% of the customers. They’re like either daily or (there) 3, 4 times a week,” Haretakis said. “And I think the reason we were able to maintain that loyal following is because it’s like a familiarity. People, when they come, they see the same friendly faces that they recognize and they feel comfortable.”

There are around 20 employees at the restaurant, Haretakis said. He said he hopes to migrate as many of them to another Spires restaurant about 3.5 miles away. That location, 1750 Sepulveda Blvd., will be the only remaining Spires branch in Torrance after Haretakis’s restaurant closes.

“It’s the old chicken and the egg syndrome,” Haretakis said. “Basically, if we can get business over there, then we can support bringing some staff from here to there, that’s our goal.”

Victor Sanchez, a manager at the restaurant, said it will be hard to say goodbye.

“A lot of familiar faces the whole seven years that I’ve been working here,” he said.

The restaurant is part of the small Spires chain that was founded in 1965. Greek immigrant John Haretakis, Chris Haretakis’s uncle, founded the first diner on the corner of Euclid Street and Ball Road in Anaheim.

From there, the elder Haretakis went on to open more than 30 locations in Southern California and even parts of Texas. But over the years, as locations and demographics changed, the number of Spires restaurants narrowed, the younger Haretakis said. A Long Beach branch shut down in 2019 to make way for a Starbucks and a Jack in the Box.

There are several other Spires in the area, though, including in Carson, Lawndale, Long Beach, Ontario and Tustin.

Family-friendly American diners like Spires are losing their appeal to fast-food joints, Haretakis said, as more young clientele choose convenience and speed over traditional dining.

“It’s sad,” Haretakis said, “but at the same time, we’ve had a great run here.”

If you're looking for a perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles, look no further than the beaches near Torrance, California. Located just south of LA, these beaches offer sun, sand, and surf, making them a popular destination for locals and tourists alike. In this guide, we'll explore the best beaches near Torrance, their unique highlights, parking and accessibility options, and interesting history.

Let's start with the beach closest to Torrance: Torrance Beach. This long, wide beach is perfect for swimming, surfing, and sunbathing. The beach is situated between the Palos Verdes Peninsula and Redondo Beach and has plenty of parking spaces. There is also a large park area with restrooms, showers, and picnic tables. If you want to catch some waves, you can rent surfboards and wetsuits from local surf shops.

Just a short drive down the coast, you'll find Redondo Beach. This is a popular spot for swimming, sunbathing, and fishing. The beach features a large pier with shops and restaurants, making it a perfect spot for a day trip. You can also rent bicycles and ride along the scenic strand that runs along the beach.

Hermosa Beach is a little further down the coast but is well worth the extra drive. This beach is known for its lively atmosphere, with plenty of bars, restaurants, and shops lining the beachfront. The beach itself is perfect for swimming, surfing, and sunbathing, and there is a large pier with a performance stage and an aquarium. There are also beach volleyball courts and bike paths for those who want to stay active.

Finally, we have Manhattan Beach, the furthest from Torrance, but still only a short drive away. This beach is known for its wide, sandy shorelines, perfect for sunbathing and beach games. The beach also has a long pier with restaurants and shops, making it a great spot to grab a bite to eat. There are also plenty of amenities, including restrooms, showers, and parking.

In conclusion, the beaches near Torrance, California, offer something for everyone. Whether you're looking to swim, surf, sunbathe, or simply enjoy the view, these beaches are the perfect escape from the city. With ample parking, plenty of amenities, and interesting history, these beaches are well worth a visit.

LosLos Angeles has long been blessed with terrific Jewish deli food, from the famous number 19 at Langer’s to the towering Black Forest Reuben at Brent’s to the crisp pickle plate at Nate n’ Al. But just south of LA in the city of Torrance, there are the lesser known — but equally essential — sandwiches at New York Deli. Cut diagonally and built thick in the middle with about five ounces of peppery-cured brisket, this pastrami has been fulfilling cravings for those far away from the most famous Southern California delis for the past 38 years.

Jewish delis have had to battle changing tastes over the generations. Movements away from carby, meaty lunches to grab-and-go salads and bowls over the past few decades have meant slower times for restaurants that rely on sit-down diners. A 2009 book called Save the Deli by David Sax chronicled the existential threat posed to the industry, which still looms large. In recent years, the 95-year-old Greenblatt’s Deli in West Hollywood and 47-year-old Izzy’s Deli in Santa Monica closed permanently.

But through it all, New York Deli, located in a generic Sepulveda Boulevard strip mall, has served classic deli sandwiches in a dining room that looks like it hasn’t changed since the days of Cheers, with black and white photos of long-gone Hollywood stars, lattice white fencing placed haphazardly on the walls, and hanging wire lights. Filled mostly with quiet retirees and folks looking for an affordable lunch without the fuss, glass-topped tables and cushioned metal chairs give the feeling of a ’90s ballroom, complete with a wet bar station that no one congregates around anymore.

Opened by the Temory family, who hails from Afghanistan, in 1985, founder Omar, his wife Kamila, and son Leo continue to operate to run the New York Deli every day. Though they declined to return multiple requests for comment, it’s a welcome sight to see owners engaged in keeping regular customers happy. New York Deli’s excellence hasn’t escaped local South Bay publication the Daily Breeze, which has written numerous articles about the restaurant and named it a Reader’s Choice from 2014 to 2017. But outside of the South Bay, New York Deli doesn’t receive much media attention, which is fine because the sandwiches speak for themselves.

The Reuben ($17-18) in particular stands as an exercise in perfect proportions, with tender, beefy pastrami or corned beef topped with crunchy sauerkraut. A thin slice of Swiss cheese melts between the fermented cabbage and sliced meat, the latter stacked with such skill that the cross-cut looks like the whirls of a fingerprint. Griddled rye bread keeps everything together until the last morsel. Elsewhere on the menu, untoasted sky-high sandwiches ($14-15) come with a choice of meat, mound of crisp coleslaw, Russian dressing, and Swiss cheese for a solid rendition of Langer’s number 19.

The real highlight though might be the matzo ball soup, large enough for two or even three people to share with a fist-sized globe of glorious soaked carbohydrates surrounded by a deeply rich chicken broth. A few noodle strands, chicken chunks, and diced carrots keep every slurp interesting, and for $10 this bowl is a meal unto itself.

Not everything on the menu, however, is a hit. Those ordering bagels and lox ($18) might be slightly disappointed. Served with canned black olives and capers, the over-salted lox at New York Deli looks like it might’ve been sitting in a package for a while. But what the lox lacks the potato pancakes ($11) make up for. Shaped nearly five inches in diameter and sporting a gorgeous dark brown fried color, they work as a delicious, comforting starter, especially when topped with a blend of sour cream and applesauce. Just be sure to come in early as the latkes tend to sell out.

At New York Deli, the portions are hefty, the service is quick, and the parking is easy enough before noon. There’s a reason why this formula has retained its fans for more than a generation, and why this Jewish deli resists the passing of time. While younger folks and social media mavens haven’t caught on to its charms, those who are in the know show up before the lunch rush for one of the best pastrami sandwiches in the greater LA area.

New York Deli is open Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at 2424 Sepulveda Boulevard, Suite 4335, Torrance, CA 90501. Closed Sunday.

New York Deli

2424 Sepulveda Boulevard, , CA 90501 (310) 891-1229 Visit Website

Torrance, Calif. — NAI Capital Commercial has brokered the $6.7 million sale of Sylvia Square, a retail strip center located in Torrance. Built in 1974, the property comprises 15,234 square feet. Sheri Messerlian and David Shaby of NAI represented the seller, an entity doing business as Sylvia Square Properties LLC, and the buyer, Benecia Avenue LLC, in the transaction.

Hingham, Mass. — Newmark has brokered the $45.2 million sale of Lincoln Plaza, a 127,505-square-foot shopping center located in Hingham, approximately 20 miles outside Boston. A 68,087-square-foot Stop & Shop grocery store and a 31,882-square-foot Marshalls anchor the center, which was 99 percent leased at the time of sale. Robert Griffin, Jon Martin, Paul Penman and Matthew Adler of Newmark represented the seller, AEW, in the transaction and procured the buyer, a subsidiary of Jumbo Capital Inc. Casey O’Brien and Connor Scott of Newmark provided financial analysis support for the deal.

New York City — Global Net Lease (NYSE: GNL) and The Necessity Retail REIT (NASDAQ: RTL) have entered into a merger agreement under which GNL will acquire RTL in an all-stock transaction. The combined company is expected to own and manage over 1,350 properties with an aggregate real estate asset value of approximately $9.6 billion.

Under terms of the merger agreement, GNL stockholders are expected to own approximately 45 percent of GNL post-closing, RTL stockholders are expected to own about 39 percent, and the owner of the former external manager are expected to own up to 17 percent.

The merger is projected to generate approximately $21 million in annual cash savings realized within 12 months of transaction close, according to the companies. The combined entity will be internally managed, with external asset and property management functions to be performed by AR Global. Internalizing management is expected to result in approximately $54 million in annual cash savings.

Headquartered in New York City, Global Net Lease is a publicly traded REIT that focuses on commercial properties with an emphasis on sale-leaseback transactions involving single tenant, mission critical income producing net-leased assets across the United States and in Europe.

The Necessity Retail REIT is a publicly traded REIT that acquires and manages a portfolio of single-tenant retail and open-air shopping center properties in the U.S.

Upon completion of the merger, the size of the GNL board of directors will be expanded to nine members, including the members of the current GNL board and three independent RTL directors. Current GNL CEO James Nelson and current RTL CEO Michael Weil will become co-CEOs. Weil will be the sole CEO upon Nelson’s retirement in April 2024. Sue Perrotty, GNL’s current independent chairperson, will remain in her position.

“The merger of Global Net Lease and The Necessity Retail REIT is an exceptional opportunity to build a premier global net lease portfolio with very attractive future prospects,” says Perrotty.

BMO Capital Markets Corp. provided financial advisement to GNL while Shapiro Sher provided legal counsel. Truist Securities was financial advisor to TRL and Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP provided legal counsel. The external manager was advised by Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton and Garrison LLP.

The special committees of the boards of directors of both GNL and RTL unanimously approved the transaction. The sale is scheduled to close in the third quarter of 2023.

RTL’s stock price opened at $5.96 per share today, May 26, down from $7.81 one year ago. GNL’s stock price opened at $9.29 per share, down from $14.27 one year ago.

— Channing Hamilton

Chesterfield, Mo. — Keystone Construction Co. has completed Hub Stl, a $4 million outdoor entertainment space at The District of St. Louis in Chesterfield, roughly 20 miles outside St. Louis. The District is devoted to live music, food and beverage concepts and retail space.

Construction on Hub Stl, which features a performance stage and viewing area with a 400-person capacity, began last fall. A large LED screen and sound and lighting system will be installed later this summer. The performance area will be encircled by local restaurants with patios, a brewery and beer garden. 4 Hands Brewing Co. is scheduled to open this summer and will occupy the anchor space with a 10,000-square-foot taproom. Hi-Pointe Drive-In, the brewery’s culinary partner, will operate a fast-casual dining concept within the space.

The Staenberg Group was the developer, and HDA Architects and O’Toole Design Associates served as the architects on the project.

Orlando, Fla. — Marcus & Millichap has arranged the $7.2 million sale of a single-tenant property located in Orlando. CVS/pharmacy occupies the 13,616-square-foot building on a net-lease basis. Ronnie Issenberg, Gabriel Britti and Ricardo Esteves of Marcus & Millichap represented the undisclosed seller in the transaction.

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FinanceFloridaGrocery-anchoredNews

Sunrise, Fla. — Dwight Mortgage Trust, an affiliate REIT of Dwight Capital, has provided a $12.8 million bridge loan for Pine Island Plaza, a 104,000-square-foot, grocery-anchored shopping center in Sunrise. The borrower was not disclosed. The South Florida shopping center comprises 21 tenants, including an unnamed national grocer that will open its doors in June.

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Henrico and Midlothian, Va. — H.I.G. Realty Partners has purchased a shopping center portfolio for $110 million and formed a joint venture partnership with Rosenthal Properties and FarmViewVentures. Totaling 592,000 square feet, the portfolio includes Parham Plaza, Ridge Shopping Center and Staples Mill Square in Henrico, roughly 10 miles outside Richmond and Stonehenge Village Center in Midlothian, roughly 15 miles outside Richmond. The portfolio was approximately 95 percent leased at the time of sale to tenants including Wegmans, Walmart, The Fresh Market and Aldi. Todd Soloway, Danielle Schechner, Ari Tran, Benjamin Teig, Kyle Miller, Nicholas Ratsep, David Saltzman and Michael Kumar of Pryor Cashman represented H.I.G in connection with the acquisition and financing of the shopping centers.

Canton, Ga. — Acadia Realty Trust has received a $36 million loan for the refinancing of Canton Marketplace, a 335,445-square-foot shopping center in Canton, roughly 40 miles north of Atlanta. The property is 95 percent leased to tenants including Dick’s Sporting Goods, Best Buy, T.J. Maxx and pOpshelf. Mike Ryan, Brian Linnihan, Richard Henry and JP Cordeiro of CBRE secured the financing on behalf of Acadia through Voya Investment Management.